This morning, we listened to a Canadian national talk show where a guest attributed the increase in youth suicide and suicidal ideation entirely to social media and cyberbullying. What was striking was that no evidence or citations were provided to substantiate this claim – none! Here’s a whole chapter from our free web book for parents that drills down on the who, what, where, when, why, and how of cyberbullying that every parent, caregiver, and educator should read. (1)
While it’s easy to single out social media as the villain in youth mental health challenges, mental health experts stress that these issues are multifactorial. (2) Reducing the discussion to a single cause oversimplifies a deeply interconnected complex issue and risks ignoring the diverse, intertwined challenges many young people face today.
The Multifactorial Nature of Youth Mental Health
Here are some of the biological, social, and societal factors that could contribute to mental health challenges in young people, based on expert insights:
- Instability at school
- the increasing loss of independence
- Academic pressure
- Increase in school shootings and mass violence since 2007
- Increased family conflict, family separation, and divorce rates
- Domestic abuse
- Parent/caregiver Job Loss
- Increases in parental distress
- Sexualized violence
- Struggles with Sexuality/orientation
- Increased rates of racism, xenophobia, homophobia, and misogyny
- Increased rates of child abuse
- Relationship navigation
- Unstable housing / housing crisis
- Food insecurity for lower-income families
- Concerns about climate change
- The current climate of political polarization
- Household income level
- Increased levels of child poverty in North America
- Lack of prevention and early intervention treatment and counseling for youth mental health
- loss of outside play / and youth community engagement programs
- Inflation and the cost of living in the home
- Student debt
- Applying to and financially affording university
- Substance abuse
- The increased pace of change given the global economy
- Physical health problems/disabilities
- A youth’s psychosocial makeup
- Class dynamics – Indigenous people across the world, especially Indigenous youth higher rates of self-harm and suicide
- The emotional contagion effect
- Genetic predisposition/family history of mental health
- higher recognition and reporting of mental health challenges in youth than in the past
- Teens who have lost one or more caregivers, close family members, and close friends during COVID
While it’s undeniable that technology and social media can exacerbate “some” mental health challenges in “some” youth, they are just one piece of a much larger puzzle. For some youth, social media can create pressure to conform, or exposure to cyberbullying. However, for others, it provides a sense of belonging, creative outlets, and opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals.
To frame social media as the primary cause of the rise in youth mental health issues perpetuates what psychologists call a “juvenoic moral panic” – an unfounded fear of modern youth culture and technology. (3) This narrative not only ignores all the other contributing factors mentioned in this article, but also shifts attention away from the structural and systemic changes needed to support youth mental health.
Here are some real-life examples of multifactorial challenges we have anecdotally witnessed:
- A teen, living in temporary shelters after his family faced eviction, struggles with feelings of worthlessness. They spends time on social media to escape reality, but their challenges go far beyond technology.
- A teen is deeply distressed by news about climate change. Their anxiety isn’t rooted in social media itself but in the environmental crisis that social media amplifies.
- An Indigenous teen faces discrimination in school, exacerbating feelings of isolation. Social media offers them a community but also exposes them to online hate.
To truly support young people, we must move beyond oversimplified narratives and adopt a more holistic wrap-around approach. Here’s how parents and caregivers can help:
- Recognize that mental health challenges are multifactorial and unique to each individual youth.
- Create a safe space where your child feels comfortable discussing their struggles, whether related to school, home, or social media.
- Push for better mental health resources in schools, accessible counseling services, and community programs.
- Help your child navigate the onlife world responsibly, emphasizing balance and mindful usage.
Blaming social media for the rise in youth mental health challenges may feel like an easy solution, but it oversimplifies a deeply complex issue. As outlined, youth mental health is influenced by a wide range of factors, from family instability and academic pressure to societal injustices and economic hardships. While social media can play a role, both positively and negatively, it is not the sole or even primary cause of these struggles.
To truly support our youth, we need a holistic wrap-around approach that recognizes the multifaceted nature of mental health challenges. This means creating safe spaces for open dialogue, advocating for systemic changes, and equipping young people with the tools to navigate their environments, including the onlife world, with resilience and balance.
By shifting the narrative from blame to understanding, we can build a stronger foundation for addressing youth mental health, ensuring that no contributing factor is overlooked, and no child is left unsupported.
Parents, caregivers, educators, and policymakers all have a critical role to play in reshaping this conversation. Here are some key takeaways to foster a balanced, proactive approach:
Focus on Education Over Fear – Instead of vilifying technology, focus on teaching children and teens how to use social media responsibly. Educate them about online safety, the risks of cyberbullying, and how to recognize unhealthy behaviors like social comparison. Empowering youth with knowledge helps them build digital resilience.
Advocate for Comprehensive Mental Health Resource – Push for better access to mental health services both in schools and communities. This includes counseling, early intervention programs, and peer support networks. Investing in these resources ensures that youth struggling with mental health challenges have a safety net, regardless of the root cause.
Encourage Open Conversations – Creating a supportive environment at home is crucial. Encourage regular, judgment-free discussions about emotions, challenges, and concerns. When youth feel heard and validated, they’re more likely to seek help when needed.
Address Systemic Issues – Broader societal factors, like economic instability, racial inequities, and lack of affordable housing can directly impact youth mental health. Advocate for policies and programs that address these systemic challenges, fostering a healthier and more supportive environment for children and families.
Be Mindful of Oversimplified Narratives – Recognize and challenge the “single-issue” mindset when it comes to youth mental health. Conversations and media narratives that blame social media exclusively can distract from the real work that needs to be done to address a much broader spectrum of factors.
Celebrate the Positive Uses of Technology – Technology and social media aren’t inherently harmful. Many teens find online spaces where they can express themselves, form meaningful connections, and find support for mental health challenges. Highlight these positive aspects to show that technology, when used intentionally, can be a valuable tool.
By recognizing that youth mental health is deeply multifactorial, we can stop wasting time assigning blame and start working toward solutions. Social media may be part of the picture, but it is far from the whole story. It’s time to shift from reactive blame to proactive support, ensuring that every child has the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.
By scapegoating social media, we risk oversimplifying a complex issue and neglecting the broader factors that affect youth mental health. Let’s resist the temptation to embrace easy answers and easy solutions, like banning technology and social media, and instead focus on meaningful, evidence-based solutions that address the full scope of challenges facing today’s youth.
Digital Food For Thought
The White Hatter
Facts Not Fear, Facts Not Emotions, Enlighten Not Frighten, Know Tech Not No Tech
References:
1/ https://thewhitehatter.ca/cyberbullying-digital-peer-aggression/
3/https://thewhitehatter.ca/blog/ding-juvenoia-moral-panic-its-impact-on-onlife-parenting/
